Middletown Organizers Planning Second 'Middnight On Main' New Year's Celebration

MIDDLETOWN — — Organizers have begun planning a second annual "Middnight on Main" New Year's Eve celebration, which drew thousands of visitors downtown last winter.

Until recently, the organizers were unsure if Middnight on Main would be a one-time celebration or become an annual event.

The event was created by the Community Health Center and sponsored by numerous businesses, the chamber of commerce and the city.

Community Health Center CEO Mark Masselli said Wednesday that a nonprofit organization has been set up to run Middnight on Main so that it can accept doations.

"It was a great first year," Masselli said. "There's no better place to celebrate [New Year's Eve] than Main Street in Middletown. We have a great community."

The event's planning committee is seeking donors to help pay for the event, and has several funding levels available for sponsorships.

A free iPhone and Android application called "Middnight on Main" was available last year, and will be updated this year as events are added to the schedule. The applications includes a countdown timer and locations for each activity available.

Middnight on Main was so well-received by visitors, making it a tradition was a priority, said Jennifer Alexander, founder of the Kidcity museum and one of the Middnight organizers.

"The feeling of downtown being full just gave you such a vision of Middletown's potential," Alexander said.

The group planning Middnight, led by Lucy McMillan, will try to add larger venues this year to accommodate as many visitors as possible for music, performances and interactive events.

"The one thing we heard last year was not everyone was able to get into everything they wanted to attend," Alexander said. "We were totally unprepared for just how successful it was."

Middnight on Main last year offered 12 venues with about 100 performers and entertainers, and drew an estimated 10,000 people. Organizers sold 6,500 admission buttons at $16 to $20 each and $10 for children, surpassing expectations. The event included fireworks, cooking demonstrations by local chefs and a film festival.

Middlesex County Chamber of Commerce President Larry McHugh said he is excited that Middnight On Main will be held for a second year.

"That's a busy night for our restaurants anyway, but it just added to it. People stayed downtown all night," McHugh said. "They put together terrific venues. The streets were full, the side streets were full and the sidewalks were full of people."